Scott Barnes will be keen to build upon the success he has achieved competing in North America’s premier karting street race over the weekend.

The 37-year-old will be among those competing for the honours at the Xtreme Rock Island Grand Prix in Illinois.

“This is one of my favourite weekends of the year,” the Bermuda Karting Club president told The Royal Gazette. “It’s street racing and I love street racing.

“I will be racing out of the 17 classes that Rock Island provides. I will be racing ten of them in four different karts, so it’s going to be a busy weekend for sure.”

Barnes already has five titles under his belt at the event and is returning this year all the more determined to add to his tally.

“Definitely the goal is to win as many as I can and top-threes across all ten classes,” he added.

Barnes has his work cut out competing against some of the best drivers in the United States.

“This race brings out the best of the best when it comes to street racing in the USA, so it’s very tough competition across the board in every class,” he added.

“It’s very hard to win it and lot of fast guys are at this event, so anytime you can come away with a win it’s definitely great.”

Barnes will also have to negotiate the challenging racecourse.

“While the track is the same, every year it’s also different because the barriers are never in the same place,” he said. “This is a track where the barriers are very close in every corner, so there’s zero room for error. You make one little mistake and you’re going to be in the barriers, so it’s a very unforgiving track.

“The bumps are also always changing because it’s a street race. These roads are forever changing so one year the bumps can be here and then the next year it’s all new bumps as the pavement changes.

“It’s always relearning the track every year but it is a track I feel very comfortable at. I have had a ton of laps on this track and feel very confident and looking forward to trying to get some more wins.”

Barnes admits he has not had the best of preparations, having not competed since May.

“Preparations are kind of lacking this year,” he said. “So I definitely have to use Saturday’s two rounds of practice to knock off any rust and get myself familiar with the karts.”

The Xtreme Rock Island Grand Prix, featuring drivers from around the world, will be held today and tomorrow.